West Milford High School is a four-year comprehensive community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from West Milford, in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the West Milford Township Public Schools. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1968 and was accredited through at least January 2023.West Milford High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed December 31, 2022.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 937 students and 79.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1. There were 117 students (12.5% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 38 (4.1% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.School data for West Milford High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
History Students from West Milford had attended Butler High School for grades 9–12 as part of a longstanding sending/receiving relationship that existed until September 1962, when West Milford opened its own high school.Fox v. Bd. Of Ed. Of W. Milford Tp., Justia, decided January 19, 1967. Accessed September 13, 2017. "The school system comprises four elementary schools and a new high school which opened in September 1962. Before that date, pupils of secondary grades were sent to Butler High School in Morris County." The Butler Public Schools had served students from large parts of Morris and Passaic counties, until soaring local enrollment led the district to notify feeder communities in 1954 that they would have to find alternative education options for their high school students.Staff. "Enrollments Tax Schools In Bergen; Auxiliary Rooms Are Being Converted for Classes and Construction Is Pushed", The New York Times, September 5, 1954. Accessed September 13, 2017. "Butler, in near-by Morris County, is taking drastic action to relieve congestion in its high school... Four of these 'sending districts' -- Riverdale, Jefferson Township, Kinnelon and Pequannock Township -- are in Morris County. The others -- Wanaque, Ringwood, West Milford and Bloomingdale -- are in Passaic County. Butler has given Pequannock Township and the four districts in Passaic until 1958 to complete withdrawal of their students." For some time, Macopin School (now the middle school) was the only secondary school in town until the current High School was built.
Awards, recognition, and rankings The school was the 146th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools," using a new ranking methodology.Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014. The school had been ranked 163rd in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 185th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 19, 2012. The magazine ranked the school 191st in 2008 out of 316 schools.Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed May 31, 2011. The school was ranked 169th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state."Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008. Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 167th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 48 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (80.1%) and language arts literacy (94.7%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010–2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed March 6, 2012.
Academics
Honors West Milford High School offers Advanced Placement (AP), honors and college preparatory classes to its students. Students are placed in the Honors or AP program based on various criteria. The school offers many Honors and Advanced Placement courses as core classes and electives, including:
History:
World History Honors AP World History AP United States History I/II Honors AP United States Government and Politics AP Psychology AP Economics Western Civilization Honors
Mathematics:
Algebra I Honors Geometry Honors Algebra II Honors Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry Honors AP Calculus A Honors AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Computer Science A AP Computer Science Principles AP Statistics
English:
English I Honors English II Honors (American Literature) AP English: Language and Composition AP English: Literature and Composition
Science:
Biology Honors Chemistry Honors Physics Honors Advanced Chemistry Honors AP Physics AP Chemistry AP Biology Anatomy and Physiology Honors AP Environmental Science
World Language:
Spanish IV Honors French IV Honors German IV Honors Italian IV Honors Spanish V Honors French V Honors German V Honors Italian V Honors AP Spanish V Honors AP French V Honors AP German V Honors AP Italian V Honors.
Fine Arts:
Honors Band (applicable to both Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble) Honors Choir (applicable to all choirs) AP Art History Advanced Art AP Studio for 3D and Drawing
AP Capstone:
AP Seminar AP Research
West Milford High School offers other non-AP and non-honors electives, such as:
Accounting for Business Advanced Photography Animation Applied Instrumental Music Architectural Design and Drawing Studio Art 1 & 2 Auto Occupations Automotive & Transportation Technology Concert Band Symphonic Band Wind Ensemble Basic Art Business Web Page Design Business Law Child Development Chorus Highlands Chorale Men's Chorus Women's Chorus Concert Choir Digital Art 1 & 2 Communication Design Communications/Public Relations Culinary Arts Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Fashion Merchandising Food, Nutrition and You Graphic Arts Communications 1, 2 & 3 Guitar Harmony And Theory Hospitality and Tourism History of Film Interior Design International Business Tomorrow's Teachers:Internship Marketing 1 Mechanical Drawing/ CAD & CAD 2 Painting, Illustration Personal Auto Maintenance Photography 1 & 2 Piano Principles of Engineering Design Rock of Ages Sculpture Sports & Entertainment Marketing Intro to Theater Arts Theater Arts TV Communication Arts & Media 1, 2 & 3 Video Game Design World Crafts World Cuisines
Clubs and activities West Milford High School offers a variety of afterschool clubs and activities for its students. These clubs are run by the student members under the supervision of WMHS staff members, thus allowing these clubs to truly by student-run. These include clubs, student-government programs, peer leadership programs, honorary societies, and scholastic competition organizations:
Art Club provides art students and students who are unable to take Art class during the school day to do art while having many resources and supplies available to them. This club is advised by a school art teacher. Chess Club West Milford High School has class offices at each grade level, with elected students representing their classmates in planning fundraisers, proms, and other class functions. Each graduating class has its own advisor (a WMHS staff member) and re-elects its officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary) every school year. DECA is a comprehensive business program that improves the students' understanding of marketing and advertising, while building leadership and administrative skills, through business-related tasks and projects. West Milford's award-winning DECA team sponsors school events, works with charities, and competes on a state and regional level. In 2008, students went to Giants Stadium to learn about sports marketing. This club is advised by the DECA teacher. ERASE and GSA include politically minded students who desire a more inclusive environment in the school, community, and world at large. They are open to all students and organize events such as the Day of Silence. It is advised by several teachers. Foreign Language Honor Societies (Spanish, French, German, Italian) induct members who have shown proficiency and outstanding knowledge in their chosen language of study. The members are from the IV Honors and AP V Honors courses, and must have met numerous criteria in order to be considered for nomination and induction. Each group has an elected executive board with members who serve as President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The clubs organize multicultural events and host a World Cuisine Night at which students prepare and serve foods from many nations and cultures to the guests. Each society is advised by a teacher of that language. Gaming Club Green Team (formerly known as the Environmental Club) is for students who deal with pressing environmental issues and who monitor and continually enhance the school's recycling program. The group has initiated a school-wide recycling program that has included putting separate recycling receptacles for cans/bottles and paper in every classroom. It is advised by a Science teacher. Highland Jazz Choir is a select group of choir students that performs jazz repertoire throughout the year. The group received an Honorable mention at the prestigious Berklee Jazz Festival in Boston in 2016. History Club is open to any students who have a passion for the subject of History. Students from all History courses are able to join. The club watches movies on historical figures and plays interactive games to enhance their knowledge on certain time periods. The club is advised by a History teacher. Industrial Arts Interact Club participants perform volunteer work in the schools and in the community. They often work at various school-sponsored events, including dances and activity nights. They are advised by a History teacher and a town councilwoman. Miniature Golf Club Mock Trial West Milford High School participates in the Model Congress program. Selected AP Government and Politics students meet with other schools' delegations and carry out the functions of a congress, writing and passing bills on various topics and issues. West Milford High School's Model Congress team won the Passaic County championship during the 2007–08 school year. This team is advised by WMHS's AP Government and Politics teacher. Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society includes inducted members who have shown proficiency and outstanding knowledge in Mathematics. The members are from a wide range of Mathematics courses, and must have met numerous criteria in order to be considered for nomination and induction. Mu Alpha Theta hosts multiple mathematics competitions for students from Macopin Middle School during the year. This group's elected executive board includes the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. It is advised by a Mathematics teacher. The annual Musical is put on every year at the start of March. The shows are renowned for their quality in production and performance. Recent productions include "The Drowsy Chaperone", "Young Frankenstein", "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying", "The Little Mermaid", "The Addams Family", "Anything Goes", and "Into the Woods".